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2/13/18

Benefits Of Tongue Scraping

Tongue scraping is called
jihva nirlekhana and it provides many health benefits.

It is an important part of traditional Ayurvedic daily routine and it is done early in the
morning, on an empty stomach. Scraping helps in removing food
particles, fungus and bacteria that deposit on the surface of the
tongue and compromise oral health.

The tongue should be gently
scraped from back to front for 5 to 10 strokes. After scraping rinse
mouth with water. The scraper must be rinsed off between strokes.
Tongue scrapers should not be sharp edged and should be made of gold,
silver, copper, tin or brass.

"The dirt which is
collected at the root of the tongue and which creates obstruction in
respiration produces foul smell, hence one should scrape the
tongue". (Charaka Samhita Sutrasthana 5.75)

Clinical studies have shown
that tongue scraping appears to be the most important hygienic
procedure to reduce morning bad breath. Bad breath indicates low Agni (digestive fire) or accumulation of toxins.
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By scraping away the build up that collects on
the surface of the tongue you are activating your taste buds and
eliminate the need to add more sugar, salt or spices to the food to
make it more flavorful.

From an Ayurvedic perspective tongue scraping
increases clarity of the mind by reducing toxins from the head,
alleviates Kapha dosha, provides good complexion and cures diseases of the
throat. It also stimulates the internal organs trough energetic
connections with the rest of the body (each area of the tongue
corresponds to an internal organ).

Halitosis (bad breath), gum
diseases, yeast infection in the mouth and periodontal disease can be
avoided by regular tongue scraping.